Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-06-04
TIE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
PEOPLE.

GSx bEs
In all the world there exists not anothe
form of government SO deeply planted il
the affections of the people as that of tn,
United States. Other peoples have sor
of national pride, but among the American
people there is sense of ownership of the
government that does not exist in the mind.
OF any other people on earth. More men
will voluntarily leaye the counting room,
the farm or the workshop to become sol
diers and risk their lives on the battle field
In defense of this government than for any
other. If the reader will admit this, why
Is 1t so2 we may ask. 1t is because of this
larger sense of ownership. Men may write
and talk and argue to convince the people
of this country that our government is not
Of the people and by the people, for the
people, but the people will not believe it.
However logical may be the argument
from a legal standpoint to the con-
trsry. yet from the patriotic heart and
mind of the citizen comes the
always irresistible conclusion: This is our
country, my country; this is our state, my
state; this is our city, my city. From all
these different avenues comes a sense of
ownership which appeals to the pride, the
self importance and the self interest of the
citizen that makes him extremely patriotic.
He feels in narrower sense that he and his
Rn1Iorr, o;f;1onc oro tho oUparc of fhair cifv
He feels in broader sense that he and his
fellow citizens own the state, and in a still
broader sense does he feel and appreciate
his citizenship in the nation. Any en-
croachment on the rights of the citizen in
any of these spheres is exceedingly dis
tasteful to any and all true Americans. The
political party or the statesman who fails
to recognize these facts will not long retain
the confidence of the American people.
The fact that the Democratic party favored
q policy allowing the states to exercise au-
tn ority that belonged to the domain of ma
tional power and legislation caused |
their own defeat not only in the presiden-
tial election of 1880, but the ultimate over
throw of all the states and people who
espoused that cause on the battle fields of |
the Rebellion.
In tn csc later times there seems to be a
tendency in the opposite direction. A ten
dency of the greater governments of the
state to controle domestic affairs that be-
long to counties and cities Many states
men of these times are inclined to regard
lon ging to, and created by the states, to be
enlarged or obliterated by the state at will. I
The people regard the state government :
and city government as being organized by s
them, and both with limited power Z
The city officials who exercise the power
delegated to them to nullify the laws of the ,
state will not long remain popular with the
people While on the other hand the
officials who are elected to make or execute
the laws of the state will lose the confidence t
of the people if their power is used to t
trample under foot the rights of cities U
The people are jealous of their rights, and the a
men or the political party who attempt to 2
lsurp any of the powers of government t.
ed by the people, will be eventual v
y overthrown by the people. These things I
ne not said with view to apply them to Ii
my particular official; they are said with
Tiew to benefit whoever may consider the Il
ruth of the statements here made If they u
NJ frufh -